Ordnance section cable harness

ABSTRACT

An ordnance section cable harness which extends over a continuous rod warhead wherein the wires of the cable harness are helically wound around the continuous rod warhead. In this way an equal mass is presented to all rods upon expansion of the continuous rod, thereby maintaining the continuity of the rod.

Uiiltfid States Patent 11 1 1111 3,713,390 Pieper 1 1 Jan. 30, 1973 s41 ORDNANCE SECTION CABLE 3,111,089 11/1963 13663611... ..102/70.2-R HARNESS 3,111,901 11/1963 Dodson et al ....1o2/7o.2 R I 3,223,037 12/1965 N661 =r et al 102/67 [75] inventor: Hans D.Pieper,R1vers1de,Cal1f.

Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed: May7, 1971 Appl. No.: 141,363

[1.8. Ci. ..l02/67, 244/3.l5 int. Cl. ..F42b 13/48, F42b 15/00 Field of Search.....i02/56, 67, 70.2 R; 244/3.i5, 244/3.i6

References Cited Primary Examiner-Verlin R. Pendegrass Attorney-R. S. Sciascia and Roy Miller [57] ABSTRACT An ordnance section cable harness which extends over a continuous rod warhead wherein the wires of the cable harness are helically wound around the continuous rod warhead. in this way an equal mass is presented to all rods upon expansion of the continuous rod, thereby maintaining the continuity of the rod.

2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PAIENTEDJM30 mm 3.713; 390

INVENTOR.

HANS D. PIEFEF? BY: ROY MILLER ATTORNEY.

ORDNANCE SECTION CABLE HARNESS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to ordnance section cable harnesses and to the arrangement of the wiring in these harnesses. These harnesses provide electrical connections from one end of a guided missile to the other end. For example, a harness may connect a seeker in the front of a missile to batteries and tin controls in the back of the missile.

The patent to Churchill U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,888, dated May 23, 1967, points out the necessity of the continuity of the ring formed by a continuous rod warhead. Presently, flat ribbon cable harnesses are being used. These ribbons run parallel to the axis of the warhead. This presents discontinuities in the forces on the ring as it expands. This invention presents an equal mass to all rods, thereby allowing the ring to maintain its continuity.

This invention also presents considerable savings due to the high expense of ribbon cable and the fragility of ribbon cable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention involves wrapping the wires of an ordnance section cable harness helically around a continuous rod warhead. Presently, flat ribbon cable running parallel to the axis of the warhead is used. Typically a cable harness requires a certain number of wires which cause a corresponding number of rods to slow down, while the remaining rods maintain their velocity.

The performance of certain warheads is very sensitive to lumped masses, like wires, which are in the path of the lethal agent. Therefore, the configuration of any cable harness that runs between the warhead and the shroud critically affects warhead performance.

To minimize these effects, particularly in connection with continuous rod warheads, flat ribbon cable harnesses have been used. While they present a low mass to the expanding rods of the warhead, and thereby allow continuity in the expanding ring, they have two distinct disadvantages. First, manufacture of flat ribbon cable harnesses is very expensive due to the cost of the ribbon cable and due to the manufacturing process necessary. The ribbon cables which run the length of the shroud terminate in a collector ring at each end of the blowout area of the warhead. This requires a bend which, with a ribbon cable, can only be achieved by folding or by connection to another cable. Secondly, many harnesses are damaged during the insertion of the warhead or while mating missile sections due to the fragility of ribbon cables. These ribbon cables are very thin and brittle and bend only in one plane. Any attempt to bend them in any other plane can easily result in a broken cable. By arranging the wires of a cable harness in a helical configuration around the warhead, the mass presented to an individual rod is small, and more importantly an equal mass is presented to all rods. This causes increased reliability with an equal or better performance compared to present cable harnesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The FIGURE is a lan view of the invention.

DESCRIPTIEW OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The construction and operation of continuous rod warheads are explained in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,160,099 and 3,320,888.

The wires 10 of a cable harness are shown to be wrapped around a continuous rod warhead 12 in a helical manner. These wires connect the two ends of a guided missile. For example, power utilization means 11 such as a seeker is connected to power supply means 13 such as a battery. An equal mass is thus presented to all rods 14.

What is claimed is:

1. In a guided missile with power supply means on a first end, power utilization means on a second end, a continuous rod warhead between said first and second ends and apparatus for connecting said power supply means to said power utilization means;

said apparatus comprising connectors helically wrapped around said warhead;

whereby, upon expansion of said warhead, an equal mass is presented to each rod of the warhead.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connectors are electrical wires. 

1. In a guided missile with power supply means on a first end, power utilization means on a second end, a continuous rod warhead between said first and second ends and apparatus for connecting said power supply means to said power utilization means; said apparatus comprising connectors helically wrapped around said warhead; whereby, upon expansion of said warhead, an equal mass is presented to each rod of the warhead.
 1. In a guided missile with power supply means on a first end, power utilization means on a second end, a continuous rod warhead between said first and second ends and apparatus for connecting said power supply means to said power utilization means; said apparatus comprising connectors helically wrapped around said warhead; whereby, upon expansion of said warhead, an equal mass is presented to each rod of the warhead. 